GMU 126 GMU 126 — Kiowa/Bent/Prowers Co.
Far-eastern prairie: pronghorn uplands, whitetail river bottoms
Southeast Colorado plains — Arkansas River toward the Kansas line · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
675
sq mi
Public land
6%
approx.
Elevation
3,700–4,600
feet
Motorized
extensive
access
Overview
GMU 126 lies on the far southeastern Colorado plains across Kiowa, Bent, and Prowers counties, reaching from the John Martin Reservoir country toward Lamar and the Kansas border. It is a pronghorn-and-deer unit where antelope work the shortgrass and sand-sage uplands and deer — both mule deer and a strong whitetail contingent — hold the Arkansas River cottonwood bottoms and ag corridors. The land is nearly all private ranch and irrigated farm, making access the decisive factor.
Terrain
Flat to gently rolling shortgrass high plains cut by the Arkansas River and John Martin drainage; expansive open country with cottonwood river bottoms and irrigated valley pockets.
Cover: Shortgrass prairie, sand sagebrush and yucca uplands, dryland and irrigated ag (corn, wheat, alfalfa, sorghum), CRP grass, and dense cottonwood/tamarisk galleries along the Arkansas and reservoir shorelines.
Landmarks: Arkansas River · John Martin Reservoir & State Park · Lamar · Hasty · Great Plains Reservoirs (Kiowa Co.)
Access
Dominantly private ag and ranch land. The best public access is around John Martin Reservoir (Corps of Engineers land and associated CPW SWAs) and scattered State Wildlife Areas; big-game hunting there is subject to park/SWA rules. State Trust Land is closed to hunting unless the parcel is enrolled in CPW's Public Access Program — verify individually. Elsewhere, permission or a lease is required.
Managers: Private ranch and farm, CPW State Wildlife Areas, John Martin Reservoir State Park / USACE, Colorado State Trust Land (limited)
Access points: US 50 corridor to Lamar and Las Animas · US 287 through Lamar · John Martin Reservoir / Hasty access roads · County road grid off the river bottoms
Species notes
Pronghorn
common opportunityThe marquee species and the largest share of the harvest. Antelope roam the open sand-sage and grass uplands of this far-eastern prairie; a plains limited-draw hunt with fair buck numbers where the main challenge is securing private ground.
- →Cover country by road to locate herds, then plan a terrain-and-wind stalk
- →Use yucca, sage, and shallow draws for concealment on the final approach
- →Sit stock tanks, reservoirs, and ag edges during hot midday hours
- →Focus uplands away from the river bottoms
Whitetail Deer
common opportunityWhitetails are well established in the Arkansas River and John Martin cottonwood bottoms and irrigated corridors — often the primary deer near water on this far-eastern unit. Access to river ground or reservoir tracts is the limiting factor.
- →Hunt cottonwood and tamarisk bottoms and reservoir edges
- →Watch dawn/dusk movement between river cover and crop fields
- →Prioritize John Martin public land and permission tracts on the Arkansas
Mule Deer
limited opportunityMule deer use the prairie draws, sand-sage breaks, and grass-to-ag transition away from the river. Limited draw with modest numbers — a bonus alongside the whitetail and pronghorn opportunity.
- →Glass sage and yucca breaks bordering ag and CRP at first light
- →Work prairie draws and shelterbelts
- →Hunt the upland edge where deer feed off cropland
Rocky Mountain Elk
transient lowElk are incidental this far east — only a few taken annually from wandering animals in river bottoms and large ag blocks. Not a species to target here.
- →Treat as opportunistic while hunting pronghorn or deer
- →Check heavy river-bottom and reservoir cover where stray elk linger
Pro tips
- →Base out of John Martin Reservoir for legitimate public deer and waterside pronghorn access
- →Split the unit by habitat: sage/grass uplands for pronghorn and mule deer, river bottoms for whitetail
- →Use midday water at reservoirs and stock tanks to relocate pronghorn in the heat
- →Hunt the Arkansas and John Martin cottonwoods hard during the whitetail rut
- →Confirm Public Access Program enrollment before hunting any State Trust Land parcel
Watch out for
- !Almost entirely private outside John Martin and SWAs — permission is essential
- !State Trust Land closed unless PAP-enrolled
- !Corps/State Park tracts carry their own hunting rules and closures
- !Muddy roads and dense tamarisk in the river bottoms
Logistics
Lamar is the main hub (fuel, lodging, groceries, processing) on US 50/287, with Las Animas to the west and Eads to the north. John Martin Reservoir State Park offers camping and a public-land base. Cell service is reliable near Lamar and the highway, weak on outlying ranch roads; expect gravel and dirt that goes slick when wet.
Nearest towns: Lamar, Hasty, Las Animas, Eads, McClave
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Colorado sources:
Research sources: Colorado Parks & Wildlife — Big Game Hunting · CPW Hunting Atlas (GMU boundaries & land status) · Colorado State Land Board — Public Access Program
FAQ
- How big is GMU 126 in Colorado?
- GMU 126 (GMU 126 — Kiowa/Bent/Prowers Co.) covers about 675 square miles, ranging from roughly 3,700 to 4,600 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in GMU 126?
- Approximately 6% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: Private ranch and farm, CPW State Wildlife Areas, John Martin Reservoir State Park / USACE, Colorado State Trust Land (limited). Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for GMU 126?
- Pronghorn, Whitetail Deer, Mule Deer, Rocky Mountain Elk. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Colorado agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put GMU 126 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.